-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Boston was strong . Too strong for the St. Louis Cardinals .

The Red Sox , defeated the Cardinals 6-1 on Wednesday to win their eighth World Series title and cap a wicked good worst-to-first season that delighted a city dealing with the aftermath of the deadly bombings at its signature marathon in April .

Shane Victorino drove in four runs with a bases-loaded double in the third and an RBI single in the fourth as Boston took the Series four games to two .

Series MVP David Ortiz , walked four times -- three times intentionally -- and scored two runs for the Red Sox .

A resurgent John Lackey pitched six strong innings before fading in the seventh and leaving with the bases loaded with a 6-1 lead . But reliever Junichi Tazawa got out Allen Craig to blunt the Cardinals ' comeback attempt .

In April at a remembrance ceremony for the victims of the bombing , it was Ortiz , known as Big Papi , who fired up the crowd .

`` This jersey , that we wear today , it does n't say ` Red Sox . ' It says ` Boston , ' '' Ortiz said , standing on the infield as the crowd cheered officers who were on the field .

`` We want to thank you Mayor -LRB- Tom -RRB- Menino , Gov. -LRB- Deval -RRB- Patrick , the whole police department , for the great job that they did this past week . This is our f *** ing city . And nobody 's going to dictate our freedom . Stay strong , '' he said , echoing the newly minted `` Boston Strong '' motto .

The Red Sox became only the second team in major league history to finish last in their division in one season and win the World Series the next year . In 1991 , two worst-to-first teams met in the World Series with the Minnesota Twins edging the Atlanta Braves in seven games .

It 's the club 's third World Series title in the last 10 seasons -- albeit the first that they 've celebrated on their home field since 1918 .

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Shane Victorino drove in four runs for Boston in Game 6

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Red Sox win eighth World Series title , beating Cardinals

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In 2012 , they were last in their division

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First title clinched at home since 1918 , third in last 10 seasons